Dickov: We must keep believing

PAUL Dickov believes his Athletic side deserved three points against Brighton after dominating for long spells of the game and restricting the npower League One pacesetters to just one clear-cut chance.

He watched on in disbelief as substitute Ashley Barnes fired home a 65th-minute goal, despite team-mate Glenn Murray looking several yards offside as he exited the penalty box.

“We were excellent and Gus Poyet (Brighton manager) believes we are the best team they have played this season,” said Dickov.

“They had one chance in the first half which hit the bar, and one shot on target, which was in the second half, and that was the goal — which should not have stood.

“We also should have been given two penalties. It’s not sour grapes, Gus agrees the goal was offside and the two spot-kicks should have been awarded.

“I’ve watched the video and their lad (Murray) is four yards offside. He is wondering back and the ball bounced in the penalty area, so he is offside because he is still involved.”

“I think we caused them all sorts of problems. I am delighted with our performance.”

The Scot was particularly happy with the displays of those who have come in from the fringes, most notably defender James Tarkowski and forwards Reuben Reid and Ryan Brooke.

He added: “Tarky is a man on and off the pitch despite his young age. He heads, he tackles, he passes. He got a bit tired towards the end, the jelly legs kicked in, but that is normal because he is new to the team and has played two matches in a row.

“We tried something a bit different up front and the strikers held up the ball well.

“Alright, we lacked a bit of quality again in the final third, but you still need luck and something will drop for us soon.

“That was as good as we have been with and without the ball for a long time.”

The Athletic chief believes he has seen all the right signs over the last week that point towards a resurgence.

He said: “When you are having a rough spell, the one thing that can happen is that players go hiding.

“No one did that. We are doing the right things. We must keep believing, and keep the players believing.

“We played against the top team in the division. If you had asked a neutral in the stands who was top and who hadn’t won for 10 games, they would not have been able to tell you.”